Speed camera nets £1 million in fines from speedsters |
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Published
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Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:45
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LEEDS, England: A Gatso speed-checking camera installed temporarily on a motorway in West Yorkshire has earned more than 1 million pounds in fines from erring motorists in about 18 months, it has been revealed.
The camera placed temporarily on M62 at Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire, has detected some 18,000 drivers as exceeding the prescribed speed limits during the 18 months after it was installed in September 2003, when the speed limit on motorways was reduced from 70 mph to 50 mph.
Those detected by the camera had to surrender over 50,000 penalty points and pay 1,088,000 pounds in fines.
Such camera devices have now been installed on a number of motorways, including the M6 in Cheshire, the M4 and M5 near Bristol and the M11 in Essex. According to figures secured by a newspaper, fines from speed violators have brought nearly 7 million pounds to the exchequer over the past two years. A camera on the M20 at Ashford, Kent, detected 656 drivers in six days, generating fines of 39,360 pounds.
Motoring campaign groups have criticised the new "revenue-raising" methods of the government. The RAC Foundation said these cameras are not deterrents to speeding on the highways and it seemed to be more about revenue than safety.
Edmund King, executive director of the foundation, said the camera's objective should have been to slow people down.
He said, "It is obvious it was not doing its job by the number of motorists speeding. It raises the issue of whether this is more about revenue-raising than safety."
Paul Smith of the Safe Speed road safety campaign said these cameras could alter driver behaviour. They cause traffic to bunch and some drivers to panic brake. They also cause excessive concentration on the speedo at the expense of concentration on the road ahead, he said.
The Highways Agency defended the use of cameras saying it is "appropriate" to use them to enforce speed limits and protect road workers.
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